NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Nashville Police and Metro Nashville Schools gathered on Tuesday to discuss safety plans for the upcoming school year.
MNPD Chief John Drake said there will be police coverage at all Metro Public Schools and more officers than ever before on campus.
“The May 24th mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, just days before the semester ended for our own Metro School students, shocked the conscience of Nashvillians and left us all in sheer disbelief,” Chief Drake said. “Very soon after the Uvalde tragedy, I directed that members of our police department, led by Deputy Chief Mike Alexander, begin meetings with MNPS leadership to develop plans for enhanced security measures.”
At the elementary school level, there will be part-time unarmed safety ambassadors equipped with a radio with police frequency. These positions would be MNPS employees and retired MNPD officers are invited to apply.
Officers will also be present on campus for several hours each day.
For middle schools, there will be daily school resource officer coverage on a rotating basis. John Early and McKissack Middle will have permanent SROs.
The SROs will also teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum to 6th through 8th graders.
High schools will have at least two permanent school resource officers on campus. For Magnet schools, there will be regular visits from SRO supervisors.
“Keeping sight of our staffing levels, our plan for the upcoming school year attempts to strike the right balance to enhance the safety of students and teachers with the greatest number of officers on campuses in our history, while at the same time protecting Nashville’s neighborhoods and businesses,” Chief Drake said.
In addition to these implementations, Chief Drake reminded the public that they should be properly securing firearms in homes and vehicles so they are out of the hands of juveniles.
He also made it a point to ensure that the officers with MNPD are trained to take immediate action when faced with an active shooter situation.
This plan of officers working overtime, as well as the creation of the Safety Ambassador role, is estimated to cost around $5 million to $6 million.
